IPNews® – Apple took a hit in its continuing back and forth with nemesis Samsung, as the USPTO issued a finding that calls into question the validity of one of Apple’s iPhone patents.
USPTO records show that one of Apple’s design patents was recently invalidated. Though Apple may attempt to further appeal the decision, overcoming the decision may be difficult and thus it appears to be a big win for Samsung. To continue reading, click: Apple Suffers Patent Invalidation in Samsung Case
IPNews® – A dispute has arisen between the popular music group LMFAO and a Michigan craft brewery, over the name of one of the brewery’s beers, the LMFAO Stout.
Despite the founders of the brewery contending that they had no intent to infringe on the name of the music group, the pop group is firm in its demand that they stop using the name. The brewery has yet to declare whether it plans to comply or to keep on brewing. To continue reading, click: Pop Group LMFAO Not Laughing About New Beer Trademark Dispute
IPNews® – Warner Music Group may soon see the end to a two year copyright battle that will decide if Warner owns a valid copyright to the song “Happy Birthday”.
A class action lawsuit against Warner has alleged that the song not only is not currently protected by a valid copyright, but that it never was. If it loses the case, Warner may be liable for repaying royalties it has collected related to the song. To continue reading, click: Warner Music “Happy Birthday” Copyright Lawsuit Heating Up
IPNews® – The trademark battle between San Diego Comic-Con and Salt Lake Comic Con is set to go to Federal Court.
San Diego Comic-Con sued Salt Lake Comic Con on the grounds that the two names were too similar and likely to cause confusion. Salt Lake Comic Con was recently awarded a trademark for its name which will help in the court case. To continue reading, click: San Diego and Salt Lake Battle for Comic Con Trademark
IPNews® – Blue Sphere, Inc. has sued Taylor Swift for using the trademark LUCKY 13 in relation to apparel among other goods.
Blue Sphere owns many LUCKY 13 trademarks and claims that Swift may have had prior knowledge of its trademarks before she began an apparel line. Swift is unwilling to sit for a deposition relation to the case. To continue reading, click: Taylor Swift Sued for Trademark Infringement
IPNews® – The Washington Redskins and the NFL lost a battle in court, resulting in six of the team’s Trademark registrations being cancelled.
A district court ruled that six Redskins’ Trademark registrations are to be cancelled on the grounds that they are offensive to Native American people. While the team is still free to continue to use the Redskins name, if the ruling is upheld the team will no longer have federal trademark protection. To continue reading, click: Redskins Lose Trademark Battle
IPNews® – Kickstarter recently won its patent battle with rival crowdfunding website ArtistShare.
Kickstarter received legal threats from ArtistShare in regard to the use of computers to achieve crowdfunding for projects. In response, Kickstarter sued and won the legal battle with ArtistShare which ruled ArtistShare’s patent invalid. To continue reading, click: Kickstarter Prevails After Crowdfunding Patent Threat
IPNews® – McDonald’s is seeking to prevent fast-food chain Supermac’s from expanding outside of Ireland.
Supermac’s is a popular Irish fast-food chain that is seeking Trademark protection throughout Europe in relation to its plans to expand. This has been met by opposition from McDonald’s which believes the two chains sound too similar and thus will result in consumer confusion. To continue reading, click: McDonald’s Opposes Supermac’s Trademark in Europe
IPNews® – A judge recently ruled that the patent for a prenatal test should not have been issued to San Diego based bio-tech company Sequenom.
Sequenom received the patent for the pre-natal test called MaterniT21. However, a judge ruled that this patent should never have been awarded on the grounds that it covered a “natural phenomenon.” To continue reading, click: Sequenom Prenatal Test Patent Ruled Invalid
IPNews® – Ford Motors is releasing its electrified vehicle patents to competitors in hopes that sharing technology will speed and strengthen future technological developments for electric cars.
The move follows a similar recent move by Tesla. The hope is that this will speed the adoption of electric cars which Ford is gambling will help it more than its competitors. To continue reading, click: Ford Allows Competitors Access to Patents